Laser Hair Removal: Benefits, Procedure, Risks, Cost

Benefits of Laser Hair Removal

Lasers are quite useful for removing unwanted hair from your underarms, back, leg, arm, face, bikini line, and so on. Before choosing laser hair reduction, read out the following benefits:

1. Precision: This treatment selectively targets coarse and dark hair while leaving the surrounding area undamaged.
2. Speed: The laser used in this procedure takes less than a second to treat your issue. Small areas like upper lips can easily be treated within a minute only, while larger areas like legs and back may take an hour or so.
3. Predictability: Most people have permanent hair loss within 3-7 sessions.

Ways to Prepare for Laser Hair Reduction

This treatment is more than just zapping your unwanted hair. It is a medical process that needs proper training to perform as it carries some risks. Before opting for this option, you must check the credentials of the physician or the technician performing this medical procedure.

If you want to undergo this treatment, then you have to limit waxing, electrolysis, and plucking for 6 weeks before the treatment. That is because it targets the roots of the hair which are temporarily removed by other cosmetic treatments. In addition to this, you should avoid excessive sun exposure at least 6 weeks before and after the procedure. If you do not follow these essential tips, the results may drastically be affected.

What to Expect During the Procedure?

Right before the laser procedure, your hair will be trimmed to a few milliliters above the surface of your skin. After this, numbing medicine will be applied 25-30 minutes before the process. After this, the laser tools will be adjusted as per the thickness, color, and location of your hair.

Depending on the light or laser sources used, you and the physician will have to wear proper eye protection. In addition to this, protecting the outer layer of your skin is also important and for this, a special cooling device or cold gel. Next, the physician will also give the pulse of lights to make sure you get the best results. Lastly, when the laser procedure is done, you may be provided anti-inflammatory creams, lotions, cold water, or packs to ease discomfort.

Recovery and Possible Risks

After a few days of the treatment, the treated areas of the skin will feel or look like it is sunburned. So, moisturizers and cool compression may help you. For instance, if your face was treated, then you can still apply makeup. But you should avoid wearing makeup if the skin is blistering.

After the treatment, the treated hair will fall out! Therefore, it is important to apply sunscreen for some months without any gap to prevent temporary changes in the skin tone and color of the treated area. Even though blisters are quite rare but if you are someone who has a darker complexion, then you are more likely to get it. Other potential side-effects include redness, scarring, and swelling. You should note down that permanent changes in your skin color or scarring are quite rare.

Costs of Laser Hair Reduction

As per the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the cost of this procedure is around $285 for every session. However, the cost of laser hair removal depends on various factors including the following:

1. Number of sessions needed
2. Size of the area you want to treat and the time needed for the procedure
3. The doctor or the clinic has chosen to perform the procedure
4. The geographical location where you are having this procedure

You should ask an experienced and licensed doctor to know everything about laser hair removal procedure, cost, total duration, and possible risks to make an informed decision.